Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910369 times)

Steph · « **Reply #6680 on:** August 23, 2014, 08:59:47 AM »

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Pull up a comfortable chair and join us here to talk about mysteries and their authors.
We love hearing what YOU enjoy and recommend!

Links:
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leader: JoanK

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Hmm, This book with Gregor is hard to read. Haddam has turned this little town into a prototype of bigotry. I have lived all over the south for many years and have never even met this type of human. Hope never have to.

pedln · « **Reply #6681 on:** August 23, 2014, 07:07:19 PM »

Bookmarks Magazine came today, and with it an interesting "genre comment." A recent issue featured Canadian writers and someone had a letter in the current issue asking why award-winning writer Louise Penny had not bee included. Bookmarks answered that they had decided to focus on "straightforward fiction." That's the first I've heard that term. If they had focused on Crime, Penny would have been included.

I've just finished Tess Gerritsen's The Keepsake, my f2f's September read. I'm glad it was a book and not a movie. Creepy. Almost too much so. Definitely a thriller designed to keep you glued to your seat. Definitely not a book to read just before you go to bed. The only other one I"ve read of hers is The Bone Garden, which I liked very much.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #6682 on:** August 23, 2014, 07:35:24 PM »

Oh, where is my Bookmarks magazine? My mail person or his sub, seems to be adverse to deliverying much mail on Saturday, so monday I will have a mailbox full. That magazine better be there! Today, my mail consisted of a coupon from Bed,Bath & Beyond. Whoopee. At least no bills.

Steph · « **Reply #6683 on:** August 24, 2014, 09:05:32 AM »

My bookmarks is not here either. I was not that thrilled with the Canadian article. Some authors I liked were not there and none of the really good mystery writers were included. Now I see why.

marjifay · « **Reply #6684 on:** August 24, 2014, 01:24:05 PM »

Thanks, Pedln. I'll read Gerritson's The Keepsake. I like well-written "creepy" mysteries. I liked her Silent Girl.

Marj

FlaJean · « **Reply #6685 on:** August 24, 2014, 05:24:43 PM »

I hadn't read a J.A. Jance novel in several years and sort of lost track of her Joanna Brady series. "Judgment Call" published in 2012 was in the New Books Library section so I checked it out. A little slow to start but a really interesting story once it got going.

maryz · « **Reply #6686 on:** August 24, 2014, 07:28:51 PM »

I like JAJance. We've heard her speak, and she's very entertaining.

Steph · « **Reply #6687 on:** August 25, 2014, 09:03:12 AM »

I like Joanna, but really loved J.P.Beaumont.

FlaJean · « **Reply #6688 on:** August 25, 2014, 06:34:15 PM »

Yes, I like him too.

Steph · « **Reply #6689 on:** August 26, 2014, 10:41:11 AM »

Finally staggered through Louise Penney... the Light gets in...... I really did not like the main plot.. just too too political and stupid. Did enjoy the sub plot of the quints.. Why does she have to go and ruin a character like she did. Drug addiction like that is never cured,, just treated.. and generally over and over. Boo.

JoanK · « **Reply #6690 on:** August 26, 2014, 02:32:42 PM »

Penny's new book just arrived on my kindle "The Long Way home." Haven't started it yet: a bit afraid of what she's going to do to people I like now.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #6691 on:** August 26, 2014, 04:11:30 PM »

Finished another Catherine Coulter FBI series, Bomb Shell. I'm lovin them and getting them on my ipad from my library.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #6692 on:** August 27, 2014, 08:52:32 AM »

JoanK,, do tell us about the latest Penney. I am hoping that with Gamache retiring to three pines, life will stop getting stupid. I love the little town, Ruth, the duck, and the rest of the characters. Would also like to know Gamache's wife better.
I am reading the current J.D. Robb.. interesting plot,, I skip the silly sex.

FlaJean · « **Reply #6693 on:** August 27, 2014, 01:10:52 PM »

I finished my Joanna Brady mystery and am starting A Flavian de Luce Novel titled The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley. I love little Flavia, but this is yet another series I haven't read in a while.

Steph · « **Reply #6694 on:** August 28, 2014, 08:51:42 AM »

I have only read one Flavia,, the first and must catch up.. Just not enough time for all the books.. I am reading an old Susan Wittig Albert.. about the wedding actually. I just missed it and wanted to catch up. Started and stopped two books I have had in the TBR for ages and hated.. The Monster of Florence.. ugh..Dont like Preston and don't think I like Italys idea of justice.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #6695 on:** August 28, 2014, 11:00:26 AM »

We read The Monster of Florence (by preston) in our f2f book club. We were all appalled at the Italian idea of justice, as is all too clear in this Amanda Knox (?) case. There is a new book out with the title "Monster of Florence" by a totally different author and I don't think it deals with the same cases. How is it possible to have 2 identical titles within just a few years? I thought many years had to pass before you could use the same title as someone else's book??? I'm Probably wrong on that one...

Steph · « **Reply #6696 on:** August 29, 2014, 09:06:04 AM »

Oh thank heavens, someone else saw that Italian justice is not quite the right word.

MaryPage · « **Reply #6697 on:** August 29, 2014, 06:02:38 PM »

Te he! Is it an oxymoron?

Steph · « **Reply #6698 on:** August 30, 2014, 09:24:57 AM »

Italian justice seems to start from a predetermined idea of who is guilty and then switching things around to make it work.. I felt that way about Amanda Knox ( she was American and therefore some sort of monster). and when you arrest a newsman since he must be the villain something is wrong with your head.
Oh, found an interesting sort of cozy author. Penny Drake.. the books is Trash Course and it is about two hoarder brothers and how they booby-trapped their house.. etc. about 1/3 through and it has kept my interest. Have not looked anything up, but note the copyright is in a mans name

MaryPage · « **Reply #6699 on:** August 30, 2014, 07:58:18 PM »

Steph, I Googled it because I was curious, as my last name is Drake.

Penny Drake is a pen name for Steven Harper, who also uses the pen name Steven Piziks for his Science Fiction books. Apparently the one you are reading is listed as a Romance, is on E-books only, and gets 3 stars out of five. The book was written by a man.

Steph · « **Reply #6700 on:** August 31, 2014, 09:25:56 AM »

I have a hard copy paperback, and it is definitely a mystery,, the romance is mostly fencing.. I am almost through and it has been twisting in some interesting directions.

JoanK · « **Reply #6701 on:** August 31, 2014, 04:32:09 PM »

I looked p Penny Drake in Fantastic Fiction and got a warning that was being transferred to an "Adults Only" web site, and I should exit if not over 18. So I exited (oh, wait, I'm 81, not 18 -- I confuse the two.

)

Steph, what are you reading?!

MaryPage · « **Reply #6702 on:** August 31, 2014, 05:29:46 PM »

Whatever, I think she's old enough, Joan. Oh, and so be you!

Steph · « **Reply #6703 on:** September 01, 2014, 08:59:35 AM »

Almost done with the Penny Drake, I looked up everything in sight. The man has written under at least three names, but I only find one Penny Drake. Darn because I liked the heroine and the premise of the book. Oh.. the author seems to write a blog as well. I finally got the Stef Penney "The Invisible ones" and I think I will try that next. I put it on my wish list at the swap club at least 18 months ago..but I have some stuff on there from3-4 years ago..

mabel1015j · « **Reply #6704 on:** September 04, 2014, 01:10:36 PM »

Serendipity! I love how things come together surprisingly...........You mentioned the mysteries in the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum a while back........today in my women's history newsletter they mentioned ISG, thought you might like to read it and see her portrait......

http://thefreelancehistorywriter.com/2014/08/29/isabella-stewart-gardner-the-lady-the-legend-the-legacy-a-guest-post-by-alexandra-g-kiely/?blogsub=confirming#blog_subscription-3

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #6705 on:** September 04, 2014, 04:24:19 PM »

Jean: your post mentions what I was waiting to mention about the mystery: "Murder at the Gardner." The plot of the fiction book is about a fictional robbery occurring at the museum. After the book came out, there was a real robbery at that museum. And, unlike the book, in reality as far as I know the paintings stolen have never been recovered.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders if the book inspired the real thieves.

Frybabe · « **Reply #6706 on:** September 04, 2014, 06:21:46 PM »

Okay, now you have me intrigued. Will see if I can find the book.

MaryPage · « **Reply #6707 on:** September 05, 2014, 07:26:01 AM »

I cannot but feel a really deep doubt that the very professional thieves who performed that amazing heist at the Gardner ever read the book; but who knows. When you don't know, all you can do is make a guess one way or the other. Me, I just cannot imagine men who are engaged in that sort of thing being readers of mystery books! And it is not as if this one was on the Best Seller lists and available in every airport book kiosk.

The book, THE book to read about Isabella Stewart Gardner is MRS. JACK by Louisa Hall Tharp.

I, too, have had the great privilege of visiting Boston and being directed to be sure not to miss this museum. A dear cousin and I made a point of spending time there. I am still in awe of Isabella's accomplishment, her dream, and the works of art. I would not want to live in that palace, but it would be fun to visit someone who lived there were it once again a private home. I am glad it is required that they keep it forever as she wanted it to be, because it is my feeling that we not only come away having seen many precious works of art, but the whole collection is Isabella's conception of HER work of art. For sure!

Steph · « **Reply #6708 on:** September 05, 2014, 08:59:43 AM »

At least one Sunday a month many years ago, you could go and have high tea, it was wonderful.. I loved Mrs. Jack.. and no the paintings were never found.. Some stupid collector can sit and gloat that he got them.

pedln · « **Reply #6709 on:** September 05, 2014, 10:47:38 AM »

I was just looking at the Gardner website. Now you can even have dinner on Thursdays. I'm currently reading the Jane Langton book (along with two others) and enjoying it. My one regret is that I never visited it the two years we lived in Boston. But I was a "B school" wife with a toddler and an infant. The closest we got to history and/or museums was to visit the public gardens and ride the Swan Boats (w/Mack, Pack and Lack) and to push a baby buggy along Walden Pond. And eat at Durgin Park when the in-laws came to visit.

Am also now reading Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein. I think it's book no. 2, but doesn't have to be read in any order. I do like her and this is fascinating -- the processes and procedures and legalities involved when working with sex crimes.

Steph · « **Reply #6710 on:** September 06, 2014, 08:44:51 AM »

Fairstein loves to research and her books are so fascinating to read because of it. I honestly am not sure I care who did it in her books, but I do love the stories about New York.. I am as always reading several.. Sue Ann Jaffarian(Booby Trap) not as much fun as her earlier and W for Wasted by Grafton and Kinsey is always interesting.

FlaJean · « **Reply #6711 on:** September 06, 2014, 12:19:55 PM »

I finally got The Last Scholar by Jill Payton Walsh. I'm enjoying it just as much as I enjoyed all of the Wimsey/Vane mysteries from Dorothy Sayers.

JoanK · « **Reply #6712 on:** September 06, 2014, 04:19:41 PM »

I've started the George Gently series by Hunter. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to like them. I'm already tired of him talking about himself. but this is the first book, and I assume the writing gets better. maybe I need to start later in the series.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/alan-hunter/

MaryPage · « **Reply #6713 on:** September 07, 2014, 08:08:56 AM »

Joan, I have never read those books, not a one of them. But I adore the Inspector George Gently television series. There have been seven (7) seasons thus far, and I have seen 5 of them and am into the 6th. My local PBS station show them on Saturday nights. What is his name who plays the part? Martin Shaw, that's who! Oh, he is so good!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00clbwj

Steph · « **Reply #6714 on:** September 07, 2014, 09:14:02 AM »

Since my PBS is a college affiliate, we don't get much.. and what we get is later at night,, so I must wait or Netflix BBC stuff.

FlaJean · « **Reply #6715 on:** September 07, 2014, 01:17:09 PM »

I've never read the books either but have enjoyed the George Gently series on Netflix. Netflix now has series 14 and 15 of Midsomer Murders with the new Det. Inspector Barnaby, cousin of the retired Barnaby. They sure picked a winner with the Barnaby---love this series.

JoanK · « **Reply #6716 on:** September 07, 2014, 03:49:46 PM »

JEAN: a friend in another part of the country tells me how good "Midsummer murders" is, but we don't get it here. I'm jealous.

I'm getting into the Gently, and it's more interesting. Apparently, there are 46 books, so if I like him I'm set for awhile. I have the problem with the series that I often have with British TV; can't always make out what they're saying.

I've put off reporting on the latest Louise Penney "A Long Way Home" because I don't quite know what to say. On the whole, I'd say don't read it.

Steph · « **Reply #6717 on:** September 08, 2014, 09:12:20 AM »

Why oh Why is Louise Penney turning her books into horror type things. She had such a nice cast of characters and now she is set on destroying. Sad.

salan · « **Reply #6718 on:** September 08, 2014, 06:24:17 PM »

Steph, I am sorry to hear about Louise Penny. I haven't read her latest, but I will in spite of unfavorable reviews. Will let you know how I feel after reading it.
Sally

MaryPage · « **Reply #6719 on:** September 08, 2014, 06:26:51 PM »

FORTY-SIX books about George Gently!!!!! No wonder I have not been inspired to read them!

But I do love the series. Actually, not for the stories, but for the wonderful actor who plays Gently and for the fabulous Yorkshire scenery.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910369 times)